the awakening and selected short stories(苏醒)-第12部分
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welcomed them with all the native hospitality； as she would have opened
her door to let the sunlight in。 She was fat； and walked heavily and
clumsily across the floor。 She could speak no English； but when Robert
made her understand that the lady who accompanied him was ill and
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desired to rest； she was all eagerness to make Edna feel at home and to
dispose of her comfortably。
The whole place was immaculately clean； and the big； four…posted bed；
snow…white； invited one to repose。 It stood in a small side room which
looked out across a narrow grass plot toward the shed； where there was a
disabled boat lying keel upward。
Madame Antoine had not gone to mass。 Her son Tonie had； but she
supposed he would soon be back； and she invited Robert to be seated and
wait for him。 But he went and sat outside the door and smoked。
Madame Antoine busied herself in the large front room preparing dinner。
She was boiling mullets over a few red coals in the huge fireplace。
Edna； left alone in the little side room； loosened her clothes； removing
the greater part of them。 She bathed her face； her neck and arms in the
basin that stood between the windows。 She took off her shoes and
stockings and stretched herself in the very center of the high； white bed。
How luxurious it felt to rest thus in a strange； quaint bed； with its sweet
country odor of laurel lingering about the sheets and mattress！ She
stretched her strong limbs that ached a little。 She ran her fingers through
her loosened hair for a while。 She looked at her round arms as she held
them straight up and rubbed them one after the other； observing closely； as
if it were something she saw for the first time； the fine； firm quality and
texture of her flesh。 She clasped her hands easily above her head； and it
was thus she fell asleep。
She slept lightly at first； half awake and drowsily attentive to the
things about her。 She could hear Madame Antoine's heavy； scraping
tread as she walked back and forth on the sanded floor。 Some chickens
were clucking outside the windows； scratching for bits of gravel in the
grass。 Later she half heard the voices of Robert and Tonie talking under
the shed。 She did not stir。 Even her eyelids rested numb and heavily
over her sleepy eyes。 The voices went onTonie's slow； Acadian drawl；
Robert's quick； soft； smooth French。 She understood French imperfectly
unless directly addressed； and the voices were only part of the other
drowsy； muffled sounds lulling her senses。
When Edna awoke it was with the conviction that she had slept long
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and soundly。 The voices were hushed under the shed。 Madame
Antoine's step was no longer to be heard in the adjoining room。 Even the
chickens had gone elsewhere to scratch and cluck。 The mosquito bar was
drawn over her； the old woman had come in while she slept and let down
the bar。 Edna arose quietly from the bed； and looking between the
curtains of the window； she saw by the slanting rays of the sun that the
afternoon was far advanced。 Robert was out there under the shed； reclining
in the shade against the sloping keel of the overturned boat。 He was
reading from a book。 Tonie was no longer with him。 She wondered
what had become of the rest of the party。 She peeped out at him two or
three times as she stood washing herself in the little basin between the
windows。
Madame Antoine had laid some coarse； clean towels upon a chair； and
had placed a box of poudre de riz within easy reach。 Edna dabbed the
powder upon her nose and cheeks as she looked at herself closely in the
little distorted mirror which hung on the wall above the basin。 Her eyes
were bright and wide awake and her face glowed。
When she had completed her toilet she walked into the adjoining room。
She was very hungry。 No one was there。 But there was a cloth spread
upon the table that stood against the wall； and a cover was laid for one；
with a crusty brown loaf and a bottle of wine beside the plate。 Edna bit a
piece from the brown loaf； tearing it with her strong； white teeth。 She
poured some of the wine into the glass and drank it down。 Then she went
softly out of doors； and plucking an orange from the low…hanging bough
of a tree； threw it at Robert； who did not know she was awake and up。
An illumination broke over his whole face when he saw her and joined
her under the orange tree。
〃How many years have I slept？〃 she inquired。 〃The whole island
seems changed。 A new race of beings must have sprung up； leaving only
you and me as past relics。 How many ages ago did Madame Antoine and
Tonie die？ and when did our people from Grand Isle disappear from the
earth？〃
He familiarly adjusted a ruffle upon her shoulder。
〃You have slept precisely one hundred years。 I was left here to guard
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your slumbers； and for one hundred years I have been out under the shed
reading a book。 The only evil I couldn't prevent was to keep a broiled
fowl from drying up。〃
〃If it has turned to stone； still will I eat it；〃 said Edna； moving with
him into the house。 〃But really； what has become of Monsieur Farival
and the others？〃
〃Gone hours ago。 When they found that you were sleeping they
thought it best not to awake you。 Any way； I wouldn't have let them。
What was I here for？〃
〃I wonder if Leonce will be uneasy！〃 she speculated； as she seated
herself at table。
〃Of course not； he knows you are with me；〃 Robert replied； as he
busied himself among sundry pans and covered dishes which had been left
standing on the hearth。
〃Where are Madame Antoine and her son？〃 asked Edna。
〃Gone to Vespers； and to visit some friends； I believe。 I am to take
you back in Tonie's boat whenever you are ready to go。〃
He stirred the smoldering ashes till the broiled fowl began to sizzle
afresh。 He served her with no mean repast； dripping the coffee anew and
sharing it with her。 Madame Antoine had cooked little else than the
mullets； but while Edna slept Robert had foraged the island。 He was
childishly gratified to discover her appetite； and to see the relish with
which she ate the food which he had procured for her。
〃Shall we go right away？〃 she asked； after draining her glass and
brushing together the crumbs of the crusty loaf。
〃The sun isn't as low as it will be in two hours；〃 he answered。
〃The sun will be gone in two hours。〃
〃Well； let it go； who cares！〃
They waited a good while under the orange trees； till Madame Antoine
came back； panting； waddling； with a thousand apologies to explain her
absence。 Tonie did not dare to return。 He was shy； and would not
willingly face any woman except his mother。
It was very pleasant to stay there under the orange trees； while the sun
dipped lower and lower； turning the western sky to flaming copper and
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gold。 The shadows lengthened and crept out like stealthy； grotesque
monsters across the grass。
Edna and Robert both sat upon the groundthat is； he lay upon the
ground beside her； occasionally picking at the hem of her muslin gown。
Madame Antoine seated her fat body； broad and squat； upon a bench
beside the door。 She had been talking all the afternoon； and had wound
herself up to the storytelling pitch。
And what stories she told them！ But twice in her life she had left the
Cheniere Caminada； and then for the briefest span。 All her years she had
squatted and waddled there upon the island； gathering legends of the
Baratarians and the sea。 The night came on； with the moon to lighten it。
Edna could hear the whispering voices of dead men and the click of
muffled gold。
When she and Robert stepped into Tonie's boat； with the red lateen sail；
misty spirit forms were prowling in the shadows and among the reeds； and
upon the water were phantom ships； speeding to cover。
XIV
The youngest boy； Etienne； had been very naughty； Madame
Ratignolle said； as she delivered him into the hands of his mother。 He had
been unwilling to go to bed and had made a scene； whereupon she
